After Iraq gains, Qaeda offshoot claims Islamic "caliphate"

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: Reuters

An offshoot of al Qaeda which has seized territory in Iraq and Syria has declared itself an Islamic "caliphate" and called on factions worldwide to pledge their allegiance, a statement posted on Islamist websites and Twitter said on Sunday.
...
The group, previously known as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and also known as ISIS, has renamed itself "Islamic State" and proclaimed its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as "Caliph" - the head of the state, the statement said.

"He is the imam and khalifah (Caliph) for the Muslims everywhere," the group's spokesman Abu Muhammad al-Adnani said in the statement, which was translated into several languages and read out in an Arabic audio speech.

"Accordingly, the "Iraq and Sham" (Levant) in the name of the Islamic State is henceforth removed from all official deliberations and communications, and the official name is the Islamic State from the date of this declaration," he said.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/06/29/us-syria-crisis-iraq-idUSKBN0F40SL20140629

[Agnosticsherbet]

1. "It deems Shi'ite Muslims to be heretics deserving death."

This group now lays a claim to all of Islam that it doesn't want to kill as heritics. This will not end well.

[bananas]

10. No, this will not end well at all - Iran is a Shi'ite theocracy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran

The first Shia theocracy in the 20th century was established in Iran following the Iranian Revolution that led to the fall of the Shah of Iran. The constitutional name of Iran was established as the Islamic Republic of Iran (Persian: جمهوری اسلامی ايران? transliteration: Jomhuri-ye Eslāmi-ye Irān). Islam is the state religion of the country.

Under the post-revolution Iranian constitution of 1979, Iran is government first and foremost by the Supreme Leader of Iran, who is responsible for the delineation and supervision of "the general policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran". The Supreme Leader is Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, controls the military intelligence and security operations; and has sole power to declare war. The heads of the judiciary, state radio and television networks, the commanders of the police and military forces and six of the twelve members of the Council of Guardians are appointed by the Supreme Leader. The Assembly of Experts elects and dismisses the Supreme Leader on the basis of qualifications and popular esteem. [1] The Assembly of Experts is responsible for supervising the Supreme Leader in the performance of legal duties.

The Islamic government of Iran attempted to export its radical form of Shi`ite Islam to other Middle Eastern countries such as Lebanon which led to the creation of Hezbollah.

The current Shi`ite controlled government in Iraq has been criticized for lacking a separation of religion and state. The current Shi`ite led government has also been criticized for being influenced by the Shi`ite clergy such as Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani.

The Sunni dominated government of Saddam Hussein heavily suppressed the Shi`ite majority who was persecuted under his regime.

<snip>

[WinkyDink]

2. "Caliphate"? SRSLY? Are they reading the Cheney Script? That and "ISIS" makes my tin-foil tingle.

[Igel]

11. You're offending the delicate sensitivities of the great imam and caliph.

Don't you know?

It is no longer ISIS or ISIL. It merely IS. That's one way of solving the problem.

Makes for strange grammar: The IS is formed. IS is winning? (Is IS winning?) Or is it "The IS is winning"? What was the Is before it became IS?

Do we pronounce it "ihzz" or "ice"? Or maybe "ihss", to rhyme with "piss"? Surely not to rhyme with "eyes".

[WinkyDink]

18. As a wise man once said, "It depends on what the meaning of 'is' is."

[jakeXT]

20. Maybe it was to obvious

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isis

[Throckmorton]

24. She is holding the Object Aunk

is this the first gate?

[jakeXT]

25. Maybe the symbol evoled from her belt buckle

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knot_of_Isis

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knot_of_Isis

I also remember it from Logan's Run

[Jefferson23]

21. ha ha

[7962]

26. Just because Cheeney and Beck have used the term doesnt mean it doesnt exist.

And here it is.

[Iliyah]

3. ISIS is pissing off countries in the Middle East

that's not gonna bold well for them.

[Turbineguy]

4. Running a government is a teensy

bit different than just killing people.

[another_liberal]

5. In a month's time . . .

If in a month's time they are still holding the bulk of what they now hold, I may start to take such claims seriously.

[rickyhall]

6. Jon Stewart - Killers become traffic cops

[kwassa]

7. Declaring oneself a caliphate is the easy part ...

Terror and ultra-violence don't do much to win the hearts and minds of the citizens. Or, allegiance from others outside the borders.

[freshwest]

12. That would be true from our POV, not theirs. I'll explain why:

Declaring oneself a caliphate is the easy part

They were working on that all along, and they are willing to kill to get it. Muslims have long had a vision of the return to what they considered to be a great period in their history.

Some of their writings, like Christian ones, take the position there will be no peace or justice until they rule the entire world. This will announcement will energize Muslims world wide to step up efforts to promote their faith. Christians look to the end times with joy as well, for their new world.

The costs to those who don't submit is death. Not unlike some eras in western history. This is a winning strategy, even though we don't like it.

Terror and ultra-violence don't do much to win the hearts and minds of the citizens.

They don't care about that, because it assumes free will on the part of those whose hearts and minds you refer Any group that has made it abundantly clear that they will kill anyone who doesn't agree with them on all matters, does not care for hearts or minds. Their input is not needed or wanted, as that is the method of democracy, not theocracy.

Or, allegiance from others outside the borders.

They want a world with no borders, the idea of a caliphate or in Christian theology, Kingdom Come, there will be no nations, all will serve God and follow their rules. They do not respect nations or borders because they regard those as constructs of a system they despise.

What do you think of my analysis of this? Is it too cynical or depressing? Do you really think they care?

[former9thward]

13. I have traveled to all these countries.

And you are correct. Whether depressing or not it is true. And no, they don't care.

[CJCRANE]

14. It depends how many believe this is the real deal

and how many think it's jumped up propaganda.

[Psephos]

23. Succinct and accurate analysis. n/t

[Coventina]

8. And I am Queen for Life of Coventinastan

You may kiss my feet, now!

[Benton D Struckcheon]

9. They are now a target for all the other jihadists,

which is fine. If you don't bend the knee to al-Baghdadi, you are more or less obliged to fight them.
Al Qaeda and all the rest vs ISIL, or IS now. Pass the popcorn.

[Bosonic]

15. And now a direct threat to Saudi Arabia

and ratcheting up the puritanical insanity levels to eleventy.

ISIS: We will ruin the Kaaba after capturing Saudi Arabia

Baku. Rashad Suleymanov – APA. Representatives of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) stated that they will ruin the Kaaba after capturing Saudi Arabia.

APA reports quoting Turkish media that ISIS wants to take control of Arar city of Saudi Arabia and start operations here.

ISIS member Abu Turab Al Mugaddasi said that they would destroy the Kaaba in Mecca: “If Allah wills, we will kill those who worship stones in Mecca and destroy the Kaaba. People go to Mecca to touch the stones, not for Allah.”

http://en.apa.az/xeber_isis__we_will_ruin_the_kaaba_after_captu_213369.html

[hatrack]

22. Gosh, they're really "reaching out" to potential supporters, aren't they?

They might have some pointers for GOP minority outreach - or vice-versa.

[Botany]

16. w, Cheney, Rummy, and so on just had to get in there

[bemildred]

17. +1. Yeah, so chickens-coming-home-to-roost, it is.

Now we get to see how much traction this guy gets with this message. You have to give him credit for aiming high.

[Botany]

19. w did not know that their was a difference between Shi and Sunni Muslims less then 2 months ....

.... before he started Dick Cheney's war. So many of us saw this nightmare coming.



We have helped to create the perfect homeland where al Qaeda type groups can live and train.

[7962]

27. SO nice to see you call it "Dick Cheney's war"! I've called it the same for years.

Even had some rousing discussions on FB about it. I put the bulk of the blame on HIM

[Botany]

29. Cheney was on record years before he became the de facto President calling for a war in Iraq ...

... and why it was so important to get Iraq's oil on the world market. Dick lied to start a
war in order to make money.

[Bosonic]

28. and maybe a SCUD or two

#Important (if true) #IS saying it has "SCUD missile in #Raqqa #Syria "

https://twitter.com/EjmAlrai/status/483675447520428032

[Bosonic]

30. Video seems to confirm SCUD capture

[PHemens]

31. Asians not safe

I think Rebels in Iraq will kill Asians who are stranded in Iraq and Syria.

[Rhinodawg]

32. eh...who cares.

its not our business.